Cardio doesn't specifically burn belly fat because you can't "spot reduce" fat; your body burns fat from all over for fuel, not just the area you're exercising, and overall fat loss through a calorie deficit (diet + activity) is key, though high-intensity cardio and strength training help reduce total body fat, including belly fat, more effectively than just moderate cardio alone. Belly fat is stubborn due to fewer fat-burning receptors, but a combination of diet, cardio, and strength training is the best approach.
Reasons Why You're Not Losing Belly Fat
Unhealthy or and excess eating is a major contributing factor. Starchy carbohydrates and bad fats can only ruin any plans you may have of reducing your midsection. You should instead be consuming more vegetables and lean proteins while staying away from fat present in red meat.
Aerobic exercise such as running, cycling or swimming can help burn calories and reduce belly fat by increasing your heart rate and promoting fat as fuel. That is, regular aerobic exercise coupled with a healthy diet can reduce overall body fat, including belly fat.
The most effective way to burn belly fat is a combination of aerobic exercise (like brisk walking, jogging, or HIIT) and strength training (weights), alongside a balanced, whole-food diet (lean protein, fiber, veggies, less sugar/processed food) and lifestyle changes like getting quality sleep and managing stress, as you can't spot-reduce fat but need overall fat loss through calorie deficit and metabolism boosting.
But why is belly fat so difficult to lose? First, when compared to other areas of your body, stubborn areas like your belly fat consist of a higher amount of a specific type of fat cell that's very resistant to mobilization and a lot more difficult to burn off.
During this process, you might notice your body feels a bit softer or "jiggly." This can happen because your skin and tissues are adjusting to the shrinking fat cells, and sometimes your body retains a little extra water as it adapts. It's all part of the transition to a leaner, stronger version of you!
The 3-3-3 rule for weight loss is a simple, habit-based method focusing on three key areas: 3 balanced meals a day, 3 bottles (or ~1.5L) of water by 3 PM, and 3 hours of physical activity per week, aiming for consistency over complex diets. It simplifies fat loss by establishing rhythm through consistent eating, adequate hydration to support metabolism, and regular movement, promoting sustainable health without intense calorie counting or restrictive rules, says Five Diamond Fitness and Wellness, Joon Medical Wellness & Aesthetics, and EatingWell.
So, does “mom pooch” go away? Yes — at least, most of the time. Although postpartum belly is stubborn, the good news is that eventually, much of it will disappear on its own. Just as you experience hormonal changes during pregnancy, your hormones shift after you've given birth.
Instead, walking helps burn calories and lower overall body fat, which in turn can lead to changes in abdominal fat over time. For those aiming to slim down, achieving about 10,000 to 12,500 steps per day can be effective, especially when paired with a balanced, calorie-conscious diet.
The best exercises to lose belly fat before bed include planks, leg raises, bicycle crunches, Russian twists, glute bridges, side planks, and reverse crunches. These exercises are designed to be gentle yet effective, targeting your core muscles without interfering with your sleep.
While cardio helps burn fat, ab exercises are crucial for toning the stomach area and strengthening the core. To get a flat stomach, you need to focus on building muscle in the abdominal region and engaging in exercises that target the core muscles.
To reduce cortisol belly fat, focus on managing stress with relaxation techniques (meditation, deep breathing, nature walks), prioritizing 7-9 hours of quality sleep, and adopting a balanced diet rich in protein and fiber while limiting sugar, processed foods, caffeine, and alcohol; combine this with regular moderate exercise and strength training to build muscle and improve insulin sensitivity, as consistent lifestyle changes are key for lowering cortisol levels and reducing abdominal fat.
Cortisol belly looks like excess fat concentrated in the abdominal area, often described as an "apple shape," where your belly protrudes due to deep visceral fat (around organs) and superficial fat, sometimes with slim limbs and face, accompanied by stress-related symptoms like bloating, fatigue, cravings, and potentially wide purple stretch marks or a fatty hump between the shoulder blades, even if you aren't generally overweight. It's not a diagnosis but a term for stress-induced abdominal fat.
Worst Habits for Belly Fat
Losing belly fat and getting a flat stomach is done through achieving a caloric deficit by eating less, exercising more, and doing that for at least 6-12 weeks. The more stubborn your belly fat is, the more strict and consistent you need to be with your diet and exercises regimen throughout that period.
The best exercises for burning belly fat involve a mix of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) for maximum calorie burn and metabolic boost, and Strength Training (like compound lifts) to build muscle and raise your resting metabolism, coupled with consistent Cardio (running, cycling) and a healthy diet for overall fat loss, as spot reduction isn't possible. HIIT, with activities like sprint intervals, burpees, and jump squats, creates an "after-burn" effect, while deadlifts and overhead lunges build core and full-body strength.
The 2:2:1 walking rule consists of 2 minutes of brisk walking, 2 minutes of jogging, and 1 minute of normal walking, repeated throughout the workout. This method combines low, moderate, and high-intensity walking, similar to interval training, which is known to boost metabolism and enhance fat burning.
To lose 1kg (about 2.2 lbs) through walking, you generally need to burn around 7,700 calories, which translates to roughly 120,000 to 200,000 steps, depending on your pace and body weight, but achieving this healthily means aiming for 10,000+ steps daily as part of a consistent routine that also involves diet, leading to about 0.5-1kg loss per week. A daily goal of 10,000 steps burns 300-400 calories, while 15,000-18,000 steps burns 500-700 calories, making 1kg loss a gradual, multi-week process, not a single burst of steps.
It's no surprise that the best one-two punch for reducing visceral fat is a combination of exercise and a healthy diet. However, the type of exercise matters, as does how you adjust your diet. “To fuel belly fat burning, you need to build muscle mass, which means increasing resistance exercise,” says Dr. Apovian.
In most people, about 90% of body fat is subcutaneous, the kind that lies in a layer just beneath the skin. If you poke your belly, the fat that feels soft is subcutaneous fat. The remaining 10% — called visceral or intra-abdominal fat — lies out of reach, beneath the firm abdominal wall.
Look down at your belly. Move your other hand above your belly button area, palms down and fingers towards your toes. Use your fingers to feel for a gap between the abs. See how many fingers can fit in the gap between your right and left abdominals.
Adele's significant weight loss wasn't from a quick fix but a two-year journey combining intense strength training, Pilates, hiking, boxing, and cardio, alongside major lifestyle changes focused on managing anxiety, not restrictive diets like the Sirtfood Diet, with workouts happening multiple times daily for mental and physical strength. Her routine included morning weights, afternoon hikes or boxing, and evening cardio, emphasizing getting stronger, which naturally led to fat loss and improved well-being.
Daily: The most common form of intermittent fasting is a daily fast for 12 to 16 hours. For a 16-hour fast, this would result in an 8-hour feeding window during a 24-hour period. A “16:8” fast might look like eating breakfast at 11am and finishing dinner by 7pm.
People naturally lose muscle after 40, especially women after menopause. Because muscle burns more calories than fat, this can slow down your metabolism and make it harder to shake those stubborn pounds.